The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-02
THE TRADE IN HATS.
A Dealer Says That Boston Heads Are
Getting Smaller.
Fron the Boston Herald.


From the Boston Herald.
There is no longer an opportunity for the
''lords of creation" to inveigh against the
expense of feminine headgear as compared
with their own when a summer hat for
man costs 500. Of course, a hat can be
bought for Soc, but the best quality genu-
inc Panama hats sell as high as $50 each.
These are made of the small ends of the
Panama vegetable fibre, and it is said that
the construction of single hat is the work
of weeks and even months.
The latest novelty for summer wear is a
hat made of the fibre of gourd grown in
the Southern States 1t is very light and
airy, and is manufactured in this city.
There are great number of large heads
in Boston, remarked hat salesman Satur-
day. "but observations from year to year
show that as a rule heads are getting smaller
heren
What is the average size e.
SIN Boston, it is rs at present, while in
Chicago it is only 6%. Heads are rounder
in Chicago than at the Hub Smaller sizes
are also worn in New York. Why, l have
known dealer in New York to put num-
Der 81 hat in the window with a sign that
it would be given to any person with a head
large enough to fit it. We wouldn't dare to
make such an offer in Boston, for we would
have to give away too many hats. We have
an order now to make an so hat for a Gus
tomern
''How large one did you ever constructW
''We had an order for 81 hat last year
which represents head 30inches in circum-
ference The ordinary No. z size is 22114L
inches around the head. There are eight
sizes in straw hats for men, ranging from
6M to TX, and in dress hats there are seven
additional Sizes"
"There is an impression that this is an off
year for straw hats. What do your sales
shown
THE trade has been very fair, and is
rapidly on the increase. The large variety
of derby hats put upon the market this year
somewhat interfered with the early bust
ness, but not materially. There is good
trade now with people from the South and
West, who are passing through the city to
Northern summer resorts. As a rule, men
put off buying straw hats as late as possible
for they do not like to wear them, but a
few more warm days will hurry them up"
''What style seems to be the rage this year,
if anyF
"a good many of the English Dunstable
fiat brim hats are sold. At first glance one
might think the brim would soon get out of
shape, but it is made double to keep itstifP
There is always demand for Mackinaw
straws, and perhaps a larger number of
these is sold than any other kind"
when prospective customer comes in,
do you try to influence HIM in his choice"
YES; when man enters the store we
size him up at glance, and generally
know better than he does what will be be
coming and suitable to him. If he Is good
judge himself of course we do not oppose
his selection. Regular customers generally
place themselves in our hands with the re-
mark, what do l want? and we usually
suit them"
"Do you notice difference in the heads
of persons of various nationalitiesp
'Yes, for instance, French heads are
small and round, while those of Englishmen
are larger"
"You do not buy much of your straw
goods in New England do you!"
ga very small portion, indeed. The
straw trade is nearly all supplied now by
Western makers, or by New York and Bal
timore manufacturers